# NTSB MIA97LA022: Beech V35B, N6026T, Columbiana, AL, November 9, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 9, 1996, 08:45 local (14:45 UTC) - Place: Columbiana, AL - Coordinates: 33.170536, -86.599487 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.1705&lon=-86.5995&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report February 5, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 38175 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA97LA022 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38175/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA97LA022 ## Probable cause the pilot's improper use of the fuel selector, which resulted in fuel starvation, and his failure to select a tank with fuel for a restart, which resulted in a failure to restart the engine, a forced landing, and subsequent impact with terrain. High obstructions and vegetation (heavy vines) in the emergency landing area were related factors. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, cruise - normal - fuel tank selector position - improper, pilot in command (cause) - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - emergency procedure - improper, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - high obstruction(s) (contributing factor) - terrain condition - high vegetation (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot stated that while in cruise flight at 4,500 feet msl, the engine lost power. He attempted to restart the engine, but the engine did not restart, so he initiated a forced landing. Subsequently, he was forced to land in a heavy vine patch to avoid impacting power lines, and the airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane's fuel selector switch was found positioned to the left tank. An FAA inspector stated that 'the left fuel tank appeared empty' when he checked it at the accident site. A mechanic, who removed the airplane from the crash site, reported that there was no evidence of residual fuel (coming from the fuel lines) when he removed the left wing, but there was fuel remaining when he removed the right wing. ## Factual narrative On November 9, 1996, about 0845 central standard time, a Beech V35B (Bonanza), N6026T, registered to a private individual, crashed during a forced landing near Columbiana, Alabama. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. The private-rated pilot received minor injuries and the airplane was substantially damaged. The flight had originated from the Berkeley County Airport, Moncks Corner, South Carolina, the same day, about 0600 [0700 eastern standard time], en route to Tyler, Texas, with a stop for fuel at Tuscaloosa, Alabama. The pilot stated that while in cruise flight, 10 minutes after switching from the right fuel tank to the left fuel tank the engine quit. He then performed emergency procedures and attempted to restart the engine. The engine failed to restart, so he initiated a forced landing. The pilot stated that when he departed South Carolina, he had 35 gallons of fuel in each tank and a total of 70 gallons of usable fuel onboard. The pilot stated that there was no sign of a "fuel problem." At the time of the engine losing power, the pilot said he was at a cruise altitude of 4,500 feet msl (mean sea level), and on autopilot. He selected a landing site, and landed in a "heavy vine patch," to avoid impacting power lines. According to the FAA inspectors statement: "...the pilot...serviced the aircraft to capacity with fuel on November 7, 1996...he then flew about thirty minutes...on November 8, 1996. He did not service fuel prior to the November 9, 1996 [flight], but stated he checked the fuel for water prior to departure. He also stated that he planned for 15-16 gallons per hour fuel consumption for his flight..." The flight time between the last refueling on November 7, 1996, and the accident on November 9, 1996, was 3 hours 15 minutes. At a fuel burn rate of 16 gallons per hour, about 52 gallons of fuel was used at the time of the accident. The FAA inspector stated that he "found the aircraft fuel selector switch with the left tank selected," and the flap and landing gear handles "down." The FAA inspector stated that "the left fuel tank appeared empty" when he checked it at the accident site on November 9, 1996. He checked it again at the Shelby County Airport, on November 13, 1996, and "found it with a substantial amount of fuel." On the same day the FAA inspector found that the right fuel tank was "empty and no residual fuel was evident when we removed several fuel lines at the engine and/or firewall." The mechanic that removed the airplane from the crash site told the FAA that there was "no evident (sic) of residual fuel (coming from the fuel lines) when he removed the left wing, but there was residual fuel when he removed the right wing." The pilot told the FAA that he "selected the left fuel tank moments prior to the engine shut down." On December 11, 1996, an engine test run was conducted at Continental Motor's facilities in Mobile, Alabama, under the supervision of the FAA. No discrepancies were observed during the engine test run. According to the FAA inspector's statement, he concluded that the engine may have lost power due to "an interruption of fuel flow to the engine," when the pilot "switched from the right fuel tank to the left fuel tank...the right fuel tank was empty." According to the FAA inspector the pilot "insist[ed] that the aircraft continued to operate after he selected the left fuel tank." According to the NTSB Form 6120.1/2, at the time of the accident, the pilot had a total of 30 flight hours in this make and model airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6026T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6026T-2003-02-20), registration cancelled 2003-02-20, S/N D-10217, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Beech V35B - Registry model: [Beech V35B](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-v35b) (registry code 1151548) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: D-10217 - Engines: Continental IO-520BB 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Jackie L. Stiles - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: 50J, MONCKS CORNER, SC - Destination: 3F9, MINEOLA, TX ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 67; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 850 total, 30 in this make and model, 30 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 320° at 20 knots - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 45 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19961109035039A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19961109035039A), Nov 9, 1996: Beech V35B, Columbiana, AL, Substantial damage. Ran a tank dry. No restart on other containing fuel. Crashed. (23) Mr. Stiles (PIC) departed moncks corner, SC alone at 0700 EST on November 9, 1996, in his… From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.